From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 10: Union Minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy alleged on Friday that rates have been fixed for all deals in the Congress government and that the State’s Revenue Department is steeped in corruption.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, he charged that all posts in the Revenue Department are being sold for specific rates, and the signatures of key persons are being sold for money.
Reiterating his allegation of 60% commission collection in the Congress government, Kumaraswamy claimed that Congress party leaders and contractors are openly discussing corruption and percentage deals. “If there were no percentage deals, why should such talks arise?” he asked.
In a direct tirade against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said the Chief Minister had gone to stick posters of “Pay CM” during the BJP rule. “But has he (Chief Minister) produced any evidence? He demands proof for all allegations but, when asked about the 40% charge against the BJP, he takes shelter behind State Contractors’ Association Chief Kempanna. If he relies on Kempanna’s allegations, why did he not demand proof from him? Now contractors themselves are levelling 60% commission charges. What proof do they need?” he demanded to know.
Attacking Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda for his statement that Kumaraswamy was levelling the 60% commission charge out of frustration at his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s third defeat in elections, the JDS leader questioned the money collected for the Assistant Commissioner’s post in the Revenue Department. “We know the corrupt deals in the Revenue Department. Let the minister clarify whether the Department is being run without corruption,” he said.
“I have also served as Chief Minister. I have never claimed that I am Satya Harishchandra and clean. I have said in the Assembly that money needs to be collected to fight elections. But I have never allowed my signature to be sold as is being done in the Congress government,” he asserted.
He declined to comment on the pujas and temple visits of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Tamil Nadu. “It is quite common to beseech God for securing power. But I have never heard of homas to finish off political rivals,” he said in an indirect reference to Shivakumar performing pujas against his enemies.
Kumaraswamy also lashed out at the dinner meeting by Dalit MLAs and ministers, pointing out that scholarships for SC/ST students have not been distributed. “Was the dinner meeting held to discuss the SC/ST scholarships? Then, why do we need a State Cabinet?” he asked.